Eddie Howe has confirmed that he would like to keep William Osula at Newcastle United next season.

While Osula almost left Newcastle United in the summer of 2025 and was then linked with a move away in January, the striker has found form since.

Who was Newcastle’s BEST player against Brighton and why? 😍

Fair play Eddie, I’m eating my words now!

With Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa dropped, Osula has been handed the role of replacing Alexander Isak.

The Dane has responded by scoring four goals in his last six games, and Howe has seen enough to keep him at Newcastle United next season.

Howe now wants to keep Osula at Newcastle

Speaking during his post-match press conference after Osula scored in Newcastle’s win over Brighton, Howe said: “[I’d] Definitely like to keep him.

“I think Will is a player of really rich promise and he was when we signed him. We signed him with the view of developing him to try and build him to become a Premier League player.

“That certainly wasn’t the player that we recruited. There was a lot of work and time that’s gone into his development.

“Graeme Jones, Jason Tindall have done an incredible job helping his development, analysing his game, feeding back to him and Will’s done really well to stay stable, level and commit to that development and see the longer-term plan.”

Osula’s long-term future at Newcastle has often been cast into doubt, but he’s certainly showing enough to suggest there’s a player to work with there.

DISCUSS: What does William Osula need to do to convince you he is our Alexander Isak replacement? ⚫⚪

The jury is still out on whether he’ll ever be of the level Newcastle require. That is, of course, assuming that PIF really do have the ambitions they say they have.

Still, the striker’s progress in recent months cannot be sniffed at. With doubts over the futures of Wissa and Woltemade, there is a spot available in the central striking position.

Osula’s rapid-fire progress is a testament to Newcastle’s coaches

Howe’s ability to improve players on the coaching pitch has been one of the pillars upon which he’s built his success at Newcastle.

It would be foolish to get too carried away right now. This is a player in development and suddenly pinning all of the team’s hopes on Osula would feel unwise.

There are signs, however, that a striker signed as a project player back in 2024 is starting to catch alight in the big leagues.